CA1276895C

CA1276895C - Heat-resistant paper container and process for preparation thereof

Info

Publication number: CA1276895C
Application number: CA 535592
Authority: CA
Inventors: Tadahiko Katsura; Toshifumi Tanabashi; Toshiaki Iioka; Takaaki Mochida; Seishichi Kobayashi
Original assignee: Toyo Seikan Kaisha Ltd
Current assignee: Toyo Seikan Group Holdings Ltd
Priority date: 1986-04-28
Filing date: 1987-04-27
Publication date: 1990-11-27
Anticipated expiration: 2007-11-27
Also published as: EP0244179A2; US4775560A; EP0244179B1; US5078939A; DE3775265D1; EP0244179A3

Abstract

Abstract of the Disclosure Disclosed is a heat-resistant paper container which comprises a bottomed seamless press-molded body comprising a laminate of a paper substrate having an elongation of at least 1.5% in the longitudinal direction and an elongation of at least 4.5% in the lateral direction and a coating layer of a hiding pigment formed on both the surfaces of the paper substrate, wherein the amount coated of the hiding pigment is 1 to 50 g/m2, the binder in the coating layer is a thermosetting resin binder and the binder is present in the coating layer at a weight ratio Rp satisfying the following condition:

Rp = k?OA?dR (1) wherein OA stands for the oil absorption (m?/100 g) of the hiding pigment, dA stands for the density (g/m?) of the binder, and k is a number of from 0.005 to 0.2.

Description

- ` ~27~

HEAT-RESISTANT PAPER CONTAINER AND PROCES~
FOR PREPARATION THEREOF

Background Or _he Invention (l) Field of ~he Invention The present invention relates to a heat-resistant paper container and a process for the preparation thereof. More particularly, the present in~ention relates -to a heat-resistant paper container, the content of which can be heated and cooked by a microwave oven, an electric oven or an oven toaster~ and a process for the preparation thereof.

(2) Description Or the Prior Art A tray-shaped paper container is widely used as a container in which a content such as a food is simply and easily packaged. With the recent spread of an oven, a microwave oven, an oven toaster and the like, development of a tray-shaped con-tainer which is sold in the state filled with a precooked or uncooked food and which is placed in a heating device as mentioned above to heat or cook the food for eating is desired.
As means meeting this desire, Japanese Patent Publication No. 41890/82 discloses a process for preparing a paper for a food container, which comprises forming a paper stock which is substantially neutral, impregnating the paper stock with an aqueous dispersion containing an inorganic filler, forming a starting paper : ~ from the stock, applying a heat-resistant coating on both the surfaces by bonding or pasting and coating a heat-resistant resin on the surface to be formed into an inller surface of the container. As the heat-resistant coating, there can be used not only an aluminum foilbut also a nitro cellulose type lacquer and a resin coating of the epoxy, urethane or fluorine type. It is taught that Oll the inner surface side of the container, a heat-.

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-" ~276~915 resistant resin of the silicone type or the like is applied as a releasing agent on the heat-resistant coa ting .
This container can be applied to the use where a starting material such as a swee~ rice jelly or sponge cake is packaged and heat-treated at a temperature of about 200 to about 250 C. However, in the case where heating or cooking is carried out by an oven toaster or the li~e, the temperature of the contailler is elevated to a level exceeding 300 C, and the heat resistance of the above-mentioned paper container is still insufficient and the container cannot be applied to this high-temperature use.
In cellulose fibers Or paper, carbonization and discoloration start at about 260 C, and the fibers are completely carbonized at about 300 C. Accordingly, when a paper container is applied to the use where the container is heated above 300 C, the appearance of the container is blackened so that the container cannot be put into practical use, and the strength of the container per se is drastically reduced.
As means for hiding discoloration of a paper container, there should naturally be considered a method in which a coating layer comprising a hiding pigment and a resin binder is formed on the surface of a paper substrate. However, this coated paper is generally poor in the elongation necessary for molding and the press moldability to a tray is insufficient. If a pressing mold is heated to improve the moldability, the coating layer adheres to the mold and molding often becomes impossible. Even if the coating layer does not adhere to the pressing mo]d, the viscous resin cornponent is gradually accumulated Oll the surface of the mold, resulting in reduction of the adaptability to the molding operation and occurrence of appearance defects .

.

~7 of the formed contailler. This tendency may be moderated by applying a releasing agent to the mold surface but a drastic solution of the problem is not attained.
In addition to the above-mentioned problem concerllillg the molding, the collventiollal tray container composed of a coated paper involves a problem of generation of an unpleasant smell on heating in an oven, and the rlavor of a packaged food or the like is degraded.
Summar~ of the Inventiotl I-t is theref`ore a primary object of the present invelltioll to provide a heat-resistant paper contailler composed of a paper laminate excellent in the moldability, which exerts good appearance characteristics, a high container strength and an e~cellent flavor-retaining property even when the container wall is heated at a temperature higher than 300 C.
Another object of the present inventioll is to provide a process in which a heat-resistant container having the above-mentioned excellent characteristics is prepared with a good adaptability to the molding operation without occurrence of the above-mentioned adhesion of the resin componellt to the mold.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a heat~resistant paper container which comprises a bottomed seamless press-molding body comprising a laminate of a paper substrate having an elongation of at least 1.5~ in the longitudillal direction and an elonga~ion of at least 4.5% in the lateral direction and a coating layer of a hiding pigment formed on both the surfaces of the paper substrate, wherein the amount coated of the hiding pigment is l to 50 g/m2, the binder in the coating layer is a thermosetting resin binder and the binder is ' ' '' ' ~ -.

76~9~

present in the coating layer at a weight ratio Rp satisfying the followillg conditioll:
Rp = k-OA-dR (l) wherein OA stands for the oil absorption (mQ/100 g~
of the hiding pigment dR s-tands for the density (g/mQ) of the binder, and k is a number of from 0.005 to 0.2.
Fur-thermore, in accordance with the present invelltioll, there is provided a process for the preparation of heat-resistant paper contaillers, which comprises press-molding a laminate material into a bottomed seamless container in a heated mold, said lamina-te material comprising a paper substrate and a coating layer of a hiding pigment-containillg thermosetting paint applied to both the surfaces of the paper substrate, wherein the thermosetting paint has a glass transition point of 90 to 130 C as measured by a scanllillg calorimeter and the laminate has an elongation of at least 1.5% in the longitudinal direction and an elongatioll of at least 4.5% in the lateral direction, as measured at a temperature Or 20 C and a rela-tive humidity of 65%.
Moreover, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a bottomed seamless moIded container, which comprises a paper substrate and a resin coating layer formed O}l at least one surface of the paper substrate, wherein the resin coating layer is formed so that the condition Or Q/L < 0.1 is satisfied, in which L
stands for the thickness of the laminate and Q stands for the permeation depth ill tO the paper substrate from the surface Or the coating layer.
Still further, in accordance with the present inventioll, there is provided a process for the preparation Or a bottomed seamless molded container of paper, which comprises coating an aqueous dispersion ,: . " , ~ ' , ; ~ ~ ' . ' .

- ~27~i8~i ~ 5 -comprising a hiding pigment and a -thermosetting resin having an average particle size of 0.05 to 1.0 ~m as dispersed substances on at least one surface of a paper substrate, drying the coating layer to cure the thermosetting resin, and molding the obtained laminate into a bottomed seamless container.
Still in addition, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a process ~or the prepara-tion of a bottomed seamless molded container of paper, which comprises coating an aqueous paint comprising a hiding pigment as the dispersed substance and a water-soluble thermosetting epoxy-acrylic resin as the resin component on at least one surf`ace of a paper substrate, drying the coating layer to cure the thermosetting resin, and press-molding the obtained laminate in a bottomed seamless container.
Brief Description of the Drawings Fig. l is a perspective view illustrating a heat-resistant paper container according to the present invention.
Fig. 2 is a view illustrating the sectional structure of the wall portion o~ the paper container according to the present invention.
Fig. 3 is a microscopic diagram illustrating the sectional structure of a laminate prepared in Example l.
Figs. L~, 5, 6 and 7 are microscopic diagrams illustrating the sectional structures of laminates prepared in Examples 5 through ~, respectively.
Figs. ~ and 9 are microscopic diagrams illustrating the sectional structures of laminates ob-tained in Comparative Examples 5 and 6, respectively.
In the drawings, reference numeral l represents a bot-tom, each of reference numerals 2a, 2b, 2c and 2d represents a side wall, reference numeral 3 represents a fold, reference numeral 4 represents a flange or curl portion, reference numeral 10 represents a wall, reference numeral 11 represents a substrate, and each o~
reference numerals 12a and 12b represents a heat-resistant coating layer.
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments Referring to the perspective view of Fig. 1 illustrating a heat-resistant container according to the present inventioll, this tray-shaped paper container comprises a rectangular and plane bottom wall 1 and side walls 2a, 2b, 2c and 2d connected to the bottom wall 1, and folds 3 are present between every two contiguous side walls. A flange or curl portion ll is formed on the l top edges of the side wall~s Referring to Fig. 2 illustrating the sectional structure of the wall of this paper con-tainer in an enlarged s-tate, the wall 10 comprises a paper subs-trate 11 and heat-resistant coating layers 12a and 12b applied to both the surfaces Or the paper substrate.
From the viewpoint of the moldability, it is important ~hat the paper substrate used in the present inventioll should have an elongation of at least 1.5% in the longitudinal direction and an elongation of at least 4.5% in the lateral direction. A coating layer of a hiding pigment is formed on the surface of the paper substrate 11, so that the paper substrate is prevented ~rom being directly exposed to a high-temperature atmosphere and even if the paper substrate is carbonized, this carbonization is hidden. Even if this coating layer is formed, the elongation of the laminate 3o is maintailled at a level of at least 1.5% in the longitudillal direction and a level of at least 4.5% in the lateral direction and an excellent moldability is ensured.
The present invention is characterized in that a hiding pigment-containing thermosetting paint is used :-- - . . . ..
. . , - .
. - . , . -. : - .

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, 76~9~i for the heat-resistant coating layers 12a and 12b. ~hen a thermoplastic resin is used for the coating layers 12a and 12b, Oll press-molding the laminate into a container, such troubles as adhesion of the coating to the mold are readily caused, and on heating in an oven or the like, an unpleasant smell or taste is generated to degrade the flavor of a food or the like, and reduction of the strength of the container is extreme. However, if a thermosetting resin is used as the paint componellt, these disadvantages can be eliminated or moderated. The hiding pigment contained in the paint thermally insulates the paper substrate from a hea-ted high-temperature atmosphere to control reduction of the strength of the paper substrate under heating to a very low level and imparts a heat resistance to the coating per se, and moreover, the hiding pigment exerts a function of' hiding carbonized fibers formed in the paper substrate and maintaining a good appearance.
Furthermore, the hiding pigment contained in the paint exerts an auxiliary functioll Or somewhat reducing formation and accumulation of a viscous resinous product on the surface of the mold.
According to the present inventioll, by adjusting the amount coated of the hiding pigment to 1 to 50 g/m2, especially 3 to 40 g/m2, using a thermosetting resin such as an epoxy-acrylic resin as the binder in the coating layer and applying the binder of the coating layer at a weight ratio (Rp) satisfying the condition of the formula (1), the appearance characteristics, 3o contailler characteristics and flavor-retaillillg property Oll heating in an oven or the like can be prominently improved while retaining a good moldability inherelltly possessed by the paper substrate.
If the amount coated of the hiding pigment is too small and below the above-mentioned range, the effect of "' ~' ; . ' ' - ' ' . . :. ' . ' :, . . .
, , ~Z76~ 5 insulating the paper substrate rrom a high-temperature atmosphere becomes insufficient and reduction of the paper substra-te under heating is increased, and moreover, the effect of hiding carbonized fibers becomes insufficient. If the amount coated of -the hiding pigment is too large and exceeds the above-mentioned range, -the moldability is degraded and cracking, peeling and falling Or the coating layer are readily caused.
The hiding pigment is anchored on the surrace of the paper substrate through the binder. If a thermosettillg binder such as an epoxy-acrylic resin is used as the binder, the moldability of the laminate is improved and also the flavor-retaining proper-ty under heating is improved. If binders customarily used, such 1~ as a styrene/butadiene copolymer latex, an acrylic acid ester copolymer and casein are used, adhesion Or the coating layer to the pressing mold is caused at the molding step and an unpleasant smell or taste is generated. However, these problems are erfectively eliminated according to the present invention.
In the instant specification, the rormula (1) has the following meaning. In the formula (1), 0A on the right side represents the oil absorption (mR/100 g) of the hiding pigment and the product of this oil absorption and the density dR Or the binder indicates the amount (grams) Or the binder per 100 g of the pigment within the range where there can be formed a homogeneous composition iIl which the binder forms a contilluous phase and the pigment rorms a dispersed 3o phase. ~ccordingly, ir this composition is coated Oll the surrace of a smooth and impermeable substrate such : as a glass sheet, when the value Or k on the right side of the formula (1) i9 0.01 or larger, pigment particles ; are not exposed to the ou-ter surface and a coating layer having no voids in the interior or alo undulations in the . ~

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-- ~Z76i~95i g ViCillity of -the surface is formed. If the value of k is smaller than 0.01, pigment particles are exposed to the outer surface or a coating layer having voids in the interior or undulations in the ViCillity o~ the surface.
In the substrate used in the present invelltioll, some permeation of the binder into the illterior from the surface canllot be avoided. However, if the weight ratio (Rp) of the binder -to the pigment provides a value k of 0.2 or smaller, pigment particles are exposed to the outer surface and a coating layer having voids in the interior or undulations in the vicinity of the surface is formed, and a laminate having such a coating layer has an elongation comparable to that of the paper substrate and the laminate can be easily molded into the form of a tray. The value k has a certain lower limi-t for maintaining a necessary adhesion force of the hiding pigment to the paper substrate, and if the value k is smaller than 0.005, falling or isolation of the hiding pigment is caused at the molding step and the hea-t-resistant strength of the wall of the container isreduced.
In accordance with one preferred embodiment of the present invention, by using a thermosetting paint coating having a glass transition point (Tg) of 90 to 130 C as measured by a scanning calorimeter (DSC), the moldability is improved while preventing formation or : accumulation of a substance adhering to the surface of the mold. As is well-known, the glass transition is a phenomenon in which a polymeric substance is changed from a glassy hard s-tate to a rubbery state, and the temperature at which this phenomenoll takes p].ace is the glass transition point (Tg). At the measurement by the scanning calorimeter, Tg appears as the shoulder of endotherm as the point where the movement of the molecular chain begins. In case of a thermosetting . . -, - . : ~.
, . ' ' ' ' .~, ' . .
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resin, in general, the higher is the crosslinking degree, the higher is Tg.
The thermosetting resin having Tg of 90 to 130 C, that is used in the present inventioll, is regarded as having a substantially medium degree of crosslinking.
If Tg is lower than 90 C, even though the coating layer comprises a thermosetting resin, it is difficult to prevent formation of accumulation of a viscous substance Oll the surface of the heated mold. On -the other hand, if Tg is higher than 130 C, the processability o~ the coating is degraded and the moldability of the laminate is therefore degraded.
In the present inventioll, by using a thermosetting resin having Tg of 90 C or higher, adhesion of a viscous substance to the surface of the mold is controlled. It is presumed that the reason may be as follows. It is considered that a thermosetting resin contains componellts having a relatively low molecular weight or uncondensed cornponents. If Tg is elevated to 90 C or higher, the movement of the molecular chain is controlled even to a relatively high tempera-ture and the movement of the above-mentioned components is controlled by crosslinking in the molecular chain, with the result that migration of these components to the surface of the mold is inhibited.
In accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention, for formation of the coating layers 12a and 12b, an aqueous dispersion comprising a hiding pigment and a thermosetting resin having an 30 average particle size o~ 0.05 to 1.0 ~m as dispersed substances or an aqueous paint comprising a hiding pigment as the dispersed substance and a water-soluble thermosetting epoxy-acrylic resin as the resin component is used. Most of conventiollal paints comprising a pigment and a thermosetting resin are in the form of an .
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organic solvent solution. However, if a paint of the organic solvent solution type is coated on a paper substrate, deep permeation of the thermosetting resin in the interior of the paper substrate cannot be avoided.
In contrast, according to this preferred embodiment of the present invelltion, by applying the hiding pigment and thermosetting resin in the form of an aqueous dispersion or applyin~ the therrnosetting resin in the water-soluble form, permeation of the thermosetting resin into -the paper substrate can be controlled to a very low level.
More specifically, SUppOSillg that the thickness of the container wall (laminate) 10 is L and the permeation depth of the resin coating layer 12a (12b) from the surface is ~, according to the present invention, the value of Q/L can be controlled to less than 0.1, preferably 0.015 to o.o8.
According to a certain paper quality, there may be brought about some difference between the maximum permeation depth and the minimum permeation depth. In this case, the average permeation depth should be regarded as Q.
It is presumed that the reason why the permeation depth of the resin coating layers 12a and 12b can be controlled to a low level by USillg a water-dispersible or water-soluble resin may be as follows. In the present invention, a paper substrate comprising a neutral sizing agent such as an alkyl ketene dimer or alkenyl succinic anhydride or a rosin type sizing agent 3o having a weakly acidic recipe in which the amount used Or aluminum sulfate is reduced is used. The sizing treatment is carried out for imparting a water resistance to paper, that is, for preventing permeation of water in the interior of paper even if -the paper surface is wetted with water. Accordingly, if an - - , . ~ .

.

.

aqueous paillt comprising water as the medium is coated on a paper substrate as in the present invention, permeation of the resin into the paper substra-te is controlled to a very low level by the effect of the SiZillg agent. Generally, paper absorbs ~ater or an organic solvent through clearances among fibers by -the capillary action. In case of an aqueous dispersion comprising a resin having a size larger than the clearances among the fibers, permeation of the resin into the paper substrate is further controlled.
In this embodiment of the present invention, by contro]ling the permeation depth of the resin coating layers 12a and 12b to a low level, the moldability and heat resistance of the laminate are improved. It is presumed that the reason may be as follows. It is deemed that the press-moldability of a paper substrate depends on the fact that paper fibers are appropriately entallgled and interlaced with one another in the paper substrate to retain an appropria-te elongation. However, if a thermosetting resin permeates deeply in the interior of the paper substrate, entangling and interlacing points are fixed and the elongation of the paper subs-trate is lost, with the result that the press-moldability is lost. In contrast, in the laminate according to the present invention, since the permeation depth of the thermosetting resin is very small and the inherent elongation of the laminate is retained, a good press-moldability is maintained. Moreover, since permeation of the thermosettillg resin into the paper substrate is controlled, a heat-insulatillg film is f'ormed in a dense state on the surface of the paper substrate, and the heat resistance of the laminate is therefore improved.
Paper Substrate As the paper substrate, there can be used natural -.

. . . . .

~;27~1~39 and artificial papers rormed from at leas-t one member selected ~'rom natural pulps such as a conifer pulp and a hardwood pulp, inorganic ~ibers such as glass ~iber, rock wool, slag wool, asbestos and ceramic riber and pulps o~ synthe-tic resins such as polyolefins, polyester, polyamides and polyimides. A rlame retardant ~iller may be incorporated into the paper stock. For example, there can be mentiolled aluminum hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, calcium aluminate and dawsonite.
Aluminum hydroxide is especially ef~ective for increasillg the heat resistance. Moreover, in order to improve the touch or stiffness Or the paper, silica, talc, clay, calcium carbonate or the like may be added.
Furthermore, an organic resin binder can be used for improving the paper-forming property and binding or fixing fibers to one another. In the present invention, even if an ordinary paper ~ormed from a wood pulp is used, a prominently high heat resistance can be advantageously imparted~ It is preferred that the base 20 weight of the paper substrate be 100 to 600 g/m2, especially 150 to L~o0 g/m2.
From the viewpoint of the hea-t resistance, a weakly acidic paper or neutral paper, especially a neutral paper formed by using an alkyl ketene dimer or alkenyl SUCCilliC anhydride as a sizing agent, is preferred.
Hiding Pi~ment A non-toxic or lowly toxic pigmen-t having a large hiding power, especially a hiding power o~ 40 or less determined according to the method of JIS K-5101, is used as the hiding pigment in the present inven-tion.
For example, there are preferably used white pigments such as titanium white (R), yellow pigments such as titanium yellow, yellow iron oxide, chrome-titanium yellow, disazo pigments, condensed azo pigments, vat pigments, quinophthalone pigments and isoindoline, .

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_ lL~ _ orallge pigments such as monoazo lake pigments, disazo pigments, condensed azo pigments, pe]ynone and dibromoanthoanthrone, red pigments such as red iron oxide, monoazo lake pigments, disazo pigments, condensed azo pigments, perylene pigments, and quinacridone pigments, blue pigments such as cobalt blue, ultramarine, ~ cyanine blue and B-cyanine blue, green pigments such as chromium oxide green, titanium green and cyanine green, violet pigments such as dioxazine violet, and black pigments such as carbon black. These pigments may be used singly or in the form of a mixture of two or more of them. A pigmen-t composed mainly of titanium white (titanium dioxide) of the rutile type or anatase type is preferred. or course, a colored coating layer such as a coating layer of a cream color, a light pink color or a light blue color may be formed by incorporating a small amount of yellow iron oxide, red iron oxide or ultramarine into titanium white.
Moreover, a filler or extender such as aluminum hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, talc, clay, magnesium silicate or calcium silicate may be used in combination with the pigment.
Thermosetting Resin Paint As the thermosetting resin, there is used at least one member selected from phenol-formaldehyde resins, furan-formaldehyde resins, xylene-formaldehyde resins, ketone-formaldehyde resins, urea-formaldehyde resins, melamine-formaldehyde resins, alkyd resins, unsaturated polyester resins, epoxy resins, bismaleimide resins, triallyl cyanurate resins, thermosetting resins and silicone resins. Resins having Tg Or 90 to 130 C are especially preferred.
In the present invention, a combination of an epoxy resin with a reactive acrylic resin and/or vinyl resin having a group reactive with the epoxy resin, for ~ . - . . ~ :

.

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example, such a functional group as a carboxyl, hydroxyl or amino group, is preferably used as the thermosetting resin. Since this epoxy/acrylic or epoxy/vinyl paint is excellent in the processability in the crosslinked state and formation of a viscous substance on the surface of the mold is controlled, this paint is especially suitable for attainillg the objects of the present invelltion .
An aromatic epoxy resin formed by condensing bisphenol A with an epihalohydrin is especially preferred as the epoxy resin cornponent, and it is preferred that the epoxy equivalent of the aromatic epoxy resin be lO00 to 4000. As the acrylic resin, there can be mentioned copolymers of at least one monomer providing the above-mentioned functional group, which is selected from unsaturated carboxylic acids and anhydrides thereof such as methacrylic acid, acrylic acid and maleic anhydride, 2-hydroxyl (meth)acrylate group-containing monomers such as 2-hydroxyethyl (meth)acrylate and amino group-containing monomers such as 2-aminoethyl (meth)acrylate, 2-N,N-diethylaminoethyl (meth)acrylate and N-aminoethylaminoethyl ~meth)acrylate, with at least one monomer selected from alkyl (meth)acrylates such as methyl methacrylate and ethyl acryla-te, optionally with styrene. As the vinyl resin, there can be mentioned vinyl resins having a carboxyl group and/or a hydroxyl group, such as vinyl chloride/mal.eic anhydride copolymers, vinyl chloride/acrylic acid/acrylic acid ester copolymers, partially saponified vinyl chloride/vinyl acetate copolymers, villyl chloride/maleic anhydride/styrene copolymers and saponified vinyl chloride/methacrylic acid/vinyl acetate copolymers.
It is preferred that the thermosetting resin be used in an aqueous dispersion comprising resin particles , ``:
~76i51~5 having a particle size of 0.05 to l.0 ~, especially an aqueous emulsion self-emulsified or emulsified with a surface active agent, an aqueous solution or a combinatioll thereof.
An epoxy-acrylic resin, especially a sel~-emulsifiable epoxy-acrylic resin, is preferred for attaining the objects of the present inverltion. A paint formed by reacting (A) an acrylic resin of the alkali neutralization type having a number average molecular weight of 10000 to lO0000, which is formed by copolymerizing 12 to 30% by weight of acrylic acid or methacrylic acid with 70 to 88% by weight of a-t least one member selected from styrene, methylstyrene, vinyltolueIle and alkyl esters of' acrylic acid and methacrylic acid having 1 to 8 carbon atoms in the alkyl group with (~) an aromatic epoxy resin having l.l to 2.0 epoxy groups per molecule and a number average molecular weight of at least 1400 to obtain a carboxyl group-excessive epoxy resin/acrylic resin partial reaction product having a residual oxirane ring and dispersing the partial reaction product in an aqueous medium in the presence of ammonia or an amine in such an amount that : the pH value of the final coating composition is 5 to ll is especially preferred.
Moreover, a water-soluble paint formed by adding a small amount of butyl cellosolve or an alcoholic solvent to an acrylic-epoxy resin in which the acrylic resin/epoxy resin ratio is increased, for example, to 8/2 or 9/1 can be used.
3o Still further, a water-soluble resin and a water-emulsifiable resin can be used in combinatioll.
Preparation of Laminate The laminate used in the present invelltion is obtained by preparing a coating liquid contailling the above-mentioned thermosetting resin and hiding pigmen-t, -, ~ - ,.'. ' : . . ' .
,. : , . . : ' : .- . . . .
.. . . . .
., . , . ' , ' ' . : ' ,' : ' :~L2~ 9 coating this coating liquid on both the surfaces of the paper substrate and curing -the formed coating.
In the coating liquid, the amount of a medium such as wa-ter is reduced to a level as low as possible within the range providing a uniform coating. Namely, the solid concentration in the coating liquid is pref'erably adjusted to 20 to 80% by weight.
Known coating means such as spray coating, electrostatic coating, roller coating, gravure roll coating, dip coating and electrodeposition coating can be adopted.
If' the amoun-t coated on the paper substrate is adjusted to 2 to 50 g/m2~ especially lO to 40 g/~2, as the solid, satisfactory heat resistance and processability can be simultaneously obtained. Curing of the formed coa-ting can be accomplished by known means. For example, a catalyst may be used, or curing may be accomplished by heating or irradiation with ultraviolet rays or radiations.
Moldin~ of Laminate into Container Molding of the laminate in-to a bottomed seamless contailler such as a tray, a bowl or a cup can be accomplished by heating male and female mold parts, supplying the laminate between them and carrying out press molding. If the mold is heated, the moldability of the laminate is prominently improved, as compared with the case where the mold is not heated. It is preferred that the mold be heated at 50 to 180 C, especially 90 to 150 C.
As is apparent from the foregoing description, accordillg to the present invelltion, evell if the container wall is heated above 300 C, the appearance characteristics, container strength and f'lavor-retaining properties can be prominelltly improved while retaining an excellent moldability in the paper laminate, and .
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there can be provided a dual-ovenable container which can be treated in both of an electronic range and an oven toaster.
Moreover, if an appropriate combina-tion of the -thermosetting resin and hiding pigment is selected, even when press molding is carried out in a heated mold, rorma-tion and accumulation of a viscous substance on -the surface of' the mold can be prevented and a good moldability is ensured. Moreover~ permeation of' the coating layer into the paper substrate is controlled, and not only the moldability but also other properties can be improved.
The present invelltioll will now be described in detail with reference to the following examples that by no means limit the scope of the present invention.
Example 1 An aqueous epoxy-acrylic paint containing titanium white as the hid:ing paint was prepared according to the following procedures.
(A) Preparation of carboxyl group-containing acrylic resin Styrene 300.0 parts Ethyl acrylate 210.0 parts Methacrylic acid 90.0 parts Ethylene glycol monobutyl ether 388.o parts Benzoyl peroxide 12.0 parts A four-nec~ flask having the inner atmosphere substituted with nitrogen was charged with 1/l~ of a mixture having the above composition and the content was heated at 80 to 90 C. While this temperature was being maintailled, remaining 3/4 of the mixture was gradually dropped over a period of 2 hours. After termination of -the dropwise addition, the mixture was stirred at the above-mentioned temperature for 2 hours and the mixture was -then cooled to obtain a solution of a carboxyl ~ - :

~;~76~

group-colltainillg re3in having an acid value Or 93 ~as calculated as the solid; the same will apply hereillarter), a solid content Or 59.7% alld a viscosity Or 4100 cps ~as determined at 25 C; the ssme will apply hereinarter).
(B) Preparation o~ epoxy resin solution Epikot~ 1007 500 parts Ethylene glycol monobutyl ether 333.3 parts A rour-neck rlask having the inl-er atmosphere substituted with nitrogell wa~ charged with all Or the above componell~s, and the inller temperature was elevatcd to 100 C and the contellt wa~ stirred ror 1 hour to dissolve the epoxy resin completely. Then, the ~emperature was lowered to 80 C by cooling to obtaisl an 15 epoxy resin 801UtiOII having a solid content Or 60%.
(C) Preparation Or aqueous coating resin composition (1) Carboxyl group-containing acrylic resin solution (A) 100.0 parts Epoxy resin solution (B~ 50.0 parts : 20 (2) 2-Dimethylamilloethanol 9.3 partQ
(3) Deionized water ~90.7 parts A rour-neck rlask was charged with all Or the component (1) and then, the component (2~ was added with stirring so that the contalned carboxyl group wa~
substantially equimolarly n0utralized. The inner temperature was elevated to 80 C and the mixture was stirred at this temperature ~or 30 minutes, and the mixture was cooled to room temperature. The oxirane reduction ratio was 63.5%, and the vlscosity arter 3~ cookillg was 1.5 times the vlsco~lty berore cook~ng.
A~ter cookillg, the component (3) was gradually added while the mixture was being stirred, whereby a somewhat milky white dispersion having a solid contel-t Or 19.8% and a viscoslty Or 360 CpB wa~ obtained.
To the so-obtailled dispersion were added titsnium *Traae Mark , --,' ' ` ~ ' . '~'. ': ' ', ' ' ,' ' ' ~7&;15 9~

oxide o~ the rutile type having an oil absorption of 20 and a specific gravity Or 4.2 in an amoun-t equal to the amount of the solid in the dispersion and deionized water in such an amount that the total solid content Or the resin and titanium oxide was 35%. The obtained mixture was kneaded by an attritor of the ball mill type to uniformly disperse the titanium oxide.
The so-obtained titanium white-con-tainiIlg aqueous epoxy-acrylic paint was cast on a glass sheet and dry-cured at 200 C for 1 minute in an oven. The paintcoating was peeled from the glass shee-t. When the glass transition temperature (Tg) o~ the paint coating was measured by a scanning calorimeter (DS~), it was found that Tg was 115 C.
The titanium white-containing aqueous epoxy-acrylic paint was coated by a bar coater on both the surfaces of a paper substrate having an elongation of 2.0% in the longitudinal direction, an elongatioIl of 6.o% in the lateral direction and a base weight of 300 g/m2 and containiIlg 5% by weight talc as the inorganic filler, which was formed of a 30/70 mixture of conifer pulp/hardwood pulp as the chemical pulp, and the coating was dry-cured at 200 C for 1 minute in an oven. The amount coated of the paint was 14 g/m on each surface.
The amount coated of the hiding pigment was 7 g/m2 on each surface. Accordingly, the value Rp was 1.0, which was included within the range of from 0.12 to 4.8 calculated by the formula of Rp = k~OA~dR (OA = 20, dR =
1.2).
The elongation at break of the so-obtained laminate having both the surfaces coated with the titarlium white-containing epoxy-acrylic paint was measured at a pulling speed of ~I mm/min by a tensile tester. The elongation at break was 5.8% in the longitudinal direction and 2.6% in the lateral : . . . .: . -; : .: .:
' : l : . .. .
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7~8~5 direction.
Blanking and creasing were performed on this laminate having both the surfaces coated with the titanium white-containing epoxy-acrylic paint, and the laminate was press-molded in a pressing mold maintained at 140 C to obtain a rectangular tray having a length of 16 cm, a width of 9.5 cm and a depth of 2 cm, as shown in Fig. 1.
At the ~lolding step, the paint did not adhere to the mold or drop from the paper substrate, and molding could be satisfactorily performed without cracking or breaking.
Three skewers of grilled chicken were placed in this rectangular tray and stored in a refrigerator for 2 days, and the tray was heated for 4 minutes in an oven toaster. After heating, the skewered chicken was taken out from the tray and eaten. It was found that the chicken was maintained at an appropriate temperature and -tasted good. The surface of the tray was not scorched and discoloration was not observed. When the surface temperature of the tray was measured during heating, it was found that the surface temperature was 300 C or higher.
Comparative Examp~e 1~
The procedures of Example 1 were repeated in the same manner except that a rectangular tray was formed from the paper not coated with the titanium white-containing epoxyacrylic paint. By heating in the oven toaster~ the surface of the tray was browned, and reduction o~ the strength was observed. If the rectangular tray was pressed by the hand, the wall was readily broken.
Comparative Example 2 The procedures Or Example 1 were repeated in the same manner except that a titanium white-contaillillg .

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' ~;~7~ 5 thermoplas-tic polyester paint was used instead of the titanium white-con-tai~ lg epoxy-acrylic paint. At the press-molding step, the paint adhered to -the mold, and molding was difficult. When the heating test in the oven toaster was carried out in the same manner as described in Example 1 by USillg the incomplete molded tray, the paint was softened by heat and there was a risk of stic~ing of the paint to the content.
Accordingly, the tray was not suitable as a container.
Exameles 2 and 3 and Comparative Examples 3 and 4 By USillg the same epoxy-acrylic resin having a density of 1.2 and the same titanium oxide of the rutile type having an oil absorption of 20, as used in Example 1, an aqueous paint in which the epoxy-acrylic resin was present at a weight ratio (Rp) shown in Table 1 was prepared. ~y using this aqueous paint, a container was molded in the same manner as described in Example 1, and the container was subjected to the heating test. The obtained results are shown in Table 1. The contaillers prepared in Comparative Examples 3 and 4 in which the weight ratio (Rp~ of the resin to the pigment was outside within the preferred range had no adaptability to the heat treatment in an oven toaster.

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Example 4 In the aqueous coating resin dispersion prepared in (C) of Example 1 were incorporated titanium oxide of the rutile type having an oil absorption of 20 and a specific gravity of L~ . 2 in an amount equal to the amount of the resin solid and deionized water in such an amount that the total solid content of the resin and -titanium oxide was 50%. The mixture was kneaded by an attritor of the ball mill type to uniformly disperse -the titanium oxide.
The so-obtained titanium white-containillg aqueous epoxy-acrylic paint was coated by a bar coater Oll both the surfaces of a neutral paper having an elongation of 2.0% in the longitudinal direction, an elongation of 6.o% in the lateral direction and a base weight of 300 g/m2 and containing 5% by weight of talc as the inorganic filler and an alkyl ketene dimer as the sizing agent, which was formed of a 30/70 mixture of conifer pulp/hardwood pulp as the chemical pulp, and the coating was dry-cured at 200 C for 1 minute. The amount coated of the paint was 14 g/m2 on each surface, and the amount coated of the hiding pigment was 7 g/m2 on each surface.
An enlarged photo of the section of the so-; 25 obtained laminate, obtained by using an optical microscope, is shown in Fig. 3. From Fig. 3, L and Q
were determined. L was 380 ~m, and the maximum value of Q was 21.7 ~m, the minimum value of Q was 6.9 ~m and the average value of Q was 10.3 ~m. Accordingly, the maximum value of Q/L was 0.057, the minimum value ofQ/L was 0.018 and the average value of Q/L was 0.027.
Blanking and creasin~ were performed Oll the laminate having both the surfaces coated with the titanium white-containing epoxy-acrylic paint, and the temperature of the laminate was adjusted and the . , . : . . . . :
: .. , ' ., ~,' :

. . . . .
' , ' ~z~ s lami.nate was press-molded in a pressing mold to obtain a rectangular tray having a length of 16 cm, a width of 9.5 cm and a depth of 2 cm, as shown in Fig. 1.
At the molding step, adhesion of the pain-t to 5 -the mold or dropping of the coating was not caused, and molding was satisfactorily performed without cracking or breaking.
Six chicken nuggets were charged in .this rectangular tray and stored for 2 days in a refrigerator, and the tray was heated for 8 minutes in an oven toaster. ~fter heating, the chicken nuggets were eaten. It was found that the chicken nuggets were maintailled at an appropriate temperature and tasted good. The surface of the tray was not scorched and discoloration was not observed.
Example 5 throu~h 8 and Comparative Examples 5 and 6 A paint shown in Table 2 was coated on both the surfaces Or the same paper substrate as used in ~; Example 4 by a bar coater so that the amount coated of the paint was 14 g/m2 as the solid on each surface, and : the coating was dried and cured at 200 C for 1 minute in an cven.
Enlarged photographs of the sections of the obtained laminates, obtained by an optical microscope, are sho~n in Figs. 4 through 9. From these Figs., L and ~ were calculated and the values Or Q/L were calculated.
The obtained results are shown in Table 2.
Blanking and creasing were performed on each laminate, and rectangular trays having a length of 16 cm, a width Or 9.5 cm and a depth of 2.0 cm, as shown in Fig. 1, were molded by USillg a pressing mold maintailled at lLlO C. ~t the molding step, adhesion of the paint to the mold, falling of the paint, cracking of -the coating layer and breaking of the laminate were checked to ~ 35 evaluate the moldability. The results are shown in ., . ~ . .

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Table 2. As is apparent from Table 2, if an organic solvent type paint was used, the value of Q/L was increased, and breaking or cracking was often caused at the molding step.

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9 through 12 and Comparative Examples 7 through 12 A paint shown in Table 3 was coated on both the surfaces Or the same paper substrate as used in Example 4 by a bar coater so that the amount coated of the paint was 30 g/m2 as the solid on each surface, and the coating was dried and cured at 190 C for 4 minutes in an oven.
After curing, Tg by DSC and the elongatioll at break of the laminate were determined. The obtained results are shown in Table 3.
Blankillg and creasing were performed on each laminate, and a rectangular tray havillg a length of 16 cm, a width Or 9.5 cm and a depth of 2.0 cm, as shown in Fig. 1, was molded in a pressing mold maintained at 140 C. Adhesion of the paint to the mold, falling of the paint, cracking of the paint and breaking of the laminate were checked to evaluate the moldability. The obtained results are shown in Table 3. As is apparent from Table 3, when a laminate having a low elongation at break was used, breaking of the laminate or cracking of the coating layer was often caused. Furthermore, if a paint having low Tg was used, adhesion of the paint to the mold was caused at the molding step.

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Claims

1. A heat-resistant paper container which comprises a bottomed seamless press-molded body comprising a laminate of a paper substrate having an elongation of at least 1.5% in the longitudinal direction and an elongation of at least 4.5% in the lateral direction and a coating layer of a hiding pigment formed on both the surfaces of the paper substrate, wherein the amount coated of the hiding pigment is 1 to 50 g/m2, the binder in the coating layer is a thermosetting resin binder and the binder is present in the coating layer at a weight ratio Rp satisfying the following condition:

Rp = k?OA?dR (1) wherein OA stands for the oil absorption (m?/100 g) of the hiding pigment, dR stands for the density (g/m?) of the binder, and k is a number of from 0.005 to 0.2.

2. A heat-resistant paper container as set forth in claim 1, wherein the thermosetting resin has a glass transition point of 90 to 130°C as measured by a scanning calorimeter.

3. A heat-resistant paper container as set forth in claim 2, wherein the thermosetting resin an epoxy-acrylic or epoxy-vinyl resin.

4. A heat-resistant paper container as set forth in claim 1, wherein the hiding pigment is composed of titanium dioxide.

5. A heat-resistant paper container as set forth in claim 1, wherein the coating layer is formed so that the condition of ?/L< 0.1 is satisfied, in which L

stands for the thickness of the laminate and coating layer and ? stands for the permeation depth of the resin from the surface of the coating layer into the paper substrate.

6. A heat-resistant paper container as set forth in claim 1, wherein the paper substrate is a lowly acidic or neutral paper.

7. A process for the preparation of heat-resistant paper containers, which comprises press-molding a laminate material into a bottomed seamless container in a heated mold, said laminate material comprising a paper substrate and a coating layer of a hiding pigment-containing thermosetting paint applied to both the surfaces of the paper substrate, wherein the thermosetting paint has a glass transition point of 90 to 130°C as measured by a scanning calorimeter and the laminate has an elongation of at least 1.5% in the longitudinal direction and an elongation of at least 4.5% in the lateral direction, as measured at a temperature of 20°C and a relative humidity of 65%.

8. A process for the preparation of heat-resistant paper containers according to claim 7, wherein the thermosetting paint is an epoxy-acrylic or epoxy-vinyl paint.

9. A process for the preparation of heat-resistant paper containers according to claim 7, wherein the thermosetting resin is present in the coating layer at a weight ratio Rp satisfying the following condition:
Rp = k?OA?dp (1) wherein OA stands for the oil absorption (m?/100 g) of the hiding pigment, dR stands for the density (g/m?) of the binder, and k is a number of from 0.005 to 0.2.

10. A process for the preparation of a bottomed seamless molded container of paper, which comprises coating an aqueous dispersion comprising a hiding pigment and a thermosetting resin having an average particle size of 0.05 to 1.0 µm as dispersed substances on at least one surface of a paper substrate, drying the coating layer to cure the thermosetting resin, and molding the obtained laminate into a bottomed seamless container.

11. A process according to claim 10, wherein the thermosetting resin is a self-emulsifiable curable epoxy-acrylic resin.

12. A process for the preparation of a bottomed seamless molded container of paper, which comprises coating an aqueous paint comprising a hiding pigment as the dispersed substance and a water-soluble thermosetting epoxy-acrylic resin as the resin component on at least one surface of a paper substrate, drying the coating layer to cure the thermosetting resin, and press-molding the obtained laminate in a bottomed seamless container.